Cherrapunji or Sohra??? It's Sohra!!

Fill in the blanks, match the pairs, answer in one sentence, give reasons... you name a question from school papers and you will remember that you had a question about the place having highest rainfall in India - in each genre. The answer was of course Cherrapunji. Actually the place has a Guinness record of having highest rainfall in a month. In July 1861 Cherrapunji had 30.5 ft rainfall in a month!!!! This gave the place, the title- Wettest place on earth. But currently the highest rainfall credits go to a nearby place named Mawsynram. 

So the place is no more the place with the highest rainfall and the place doesn't has the name Cherrapunji either!! Now it's called as Sohra, which was it's original name. The original name was Sohrapoonji, which the British rulers couldn't pronounce and so they called it Cherrapunji. It took many years of lobbying even after India gained freedom to regain the original name of the place. In 2007 Meghalaya government decided that the place will be called by it's original name Sohra.

Due to the mountain ranges, hills, clouds, fog and rain the British called this place as Scotland of the east and made this place their administrative headquarters in North East India. 

Due to the heavy rainfalls in the region the topmost soil is washed away every year making agriculture difficult. In spite of the heavy rainfalls in rainy season the region faces draughts in winter and summer. Recently rain conservation systems are being tried out to improve the situation. 

When we had visited Sohra in Nov. 2019, we were expecting greenery in the city with highest rainfall. To our dismay, everywhere in the city what we could see was either yellow dried grass or barren land. But nearby were the dense forests and intact green cover!!

Let me tell you that the roads in Meghalaya are in fantastic condition. The travel was sheer delight with the beautiful nature, the clouds and excellent roads.

On the way to Sohra, we visited Umiam lake or Barapani lake as the locals call it. Does Barapani means Bada pani.. lots of water? I don't know. 

The lake is near to highway going from Guwahati to Sohra and is about 15 kms from Shillong. It is a reservoir, an artificial lake formed by the dam. The stored water is used for hydroelectric generation plant. It is a tourist attraction and water sports recreation center in Meghalaya. 

A leisurely stroll around the lake is the best and very soothing activity, much needed after a long journey. 

Umiam Lake 2.09p.m.

Umiam Lake 2.10 p.m.

Umiam Lake 2.10 p.m.

Umiam Lake 2.48p.m.

Umiam Lake 2.46 p.m.

Umiam Lake 2.44 p.m.

Umiam Lake 2.50 p.m.

 You must be wondering why there are so many photographs of the same lake?!! This is to show you the play of light and shadows due to the continuous movements of Megh-Clouds, true to the name of the state Meghalaya. Meghalaya means home of clouds. The terrain of the state is mountainous and it is the state having maximum rainfall in India. 

Another tourist spot on the way to Sohra is Elephant falls. These are three step falls as called in local language. The popular name is Elephant falls. It's surely a beautiful place with dense greenery, cool weather and the sound of splashing water. There are many steps to go till the bottom. 

Elephant Falls 
📷Wikimedia Commons

 

Elephant Falls

Elephant Falls

Elephant falls

In case you are wondering!!!

Steps are nicely built and not very difficult to descend. While climbing, may be the height of some steps bother senior citizens. 

There are benches kept near each flight of steps. There are many shops selling much needed hot tea, snacks and handicrafts at the entrance, near the ticket office. If you come without buying anything from there, then your name will be included in the list of ascetics!!

My shopping!

The Khasi hill region of Meghalaya where Sohra is situated has many sacred forests. They are protected mainly due to the regional religious beliefs and since 2002, due to wildlife protection act. There are some monoliths in the Sacred forests, said to be used for sacrifice in ancient times. Some say that they are symbols of ancestors. 

The Sacred Groves
📷Wikimedia Commons

We could not visit the Sacred forests due to time constraints. Sohra is famous for ancient caves. We could visit two of them. 

First cave was Arwah Lumshyanna cave. This is a must visit cave. The way to the caves is simply beautiful. Very well maintained area by Meghalaya Government.

He must be tired..so taking rest!

Some distinguished visitors

There is a park on the way to the caves. It has beautiful view of mountain ranges and dense forest. 

These caves were much easier to go than the other cave we visited, Mawsmai caves. These Arwah caves are famous for the fossils of molluscs. They are from the prehistoric period i.e. nearly 5 to 6 crore years ago. It was really thrilling to see the fossils. 

The stalactites, the cave deposits hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites, the cave deposits built up above the floor of the cave add to the beauty of the cave. 

The entrance of the Arwah Lumshyanna caves

Stalactite

Stalactites

Fossils

Large portion with fossils

There is water stream flowing inside the cave, so some part of the cave floor is bit slippery. Some parts are pitch dark. so it's better to carry a powerful torch and wear comfortable foot ware with proper grip. 

Surroundings of the cave are like this.

Sohra is also famous for it's waterfalls. One of the highest waterfalls in India is Nohkalikai waterfall. It plunges from 1100 ft height. In rainy season surely it must be a wonderful site. 

Nohkalikai Waterfall

We could see the falls and in next five minutes the valley was completely filled with clouds. This is very typical of Meghalaya.

We could visit the Ramkrishna mission school campus in Sohra. It is nearly century old institution and has very innovative curriculum. There is a shop selling articles made by the students. 

Beautiful old building

It has a temple and prayer hall near the playground. In the school, in addition to the regular school a computer training center, a vocational training school, hostel for tribal boys, a Gadadhar abhyuday prakalp for needy children is also run. Mission is running charitable hospitals as well as a mobile medical van. They are really doing a commendable work in that area. 

There is another famous waterfall in Sohra. The name is seven sisters waterfall. This is a seven segmented waterfall falling from nearly 1000 ft. In rainy season this must be a beautiful sight. 

Seven sisters waterfall in rainy season
📷Wikimedia Commons

We were not that lucky to meet all the seven sisters. When we visited Sohra in November 2019, the younger sisters had gone out some where..I think to play!! The elder ones were there, religiously guarding the post!!

Seven Sisters waterfall

Meghalaya is well known for it's maze of numerous underground caves. Many of the caves are still undiscovered. the longest cave in India is in Meghalaya in Jantia hills. It's explored length is 31 km which makes it one of the longest caves in world.

The Mawsmai cave near Sohra is one of the magnificent caves. The centuries old cave is full of enormous stalactites and stalagmites. The caves are well lit and so you can see all these wonders. 

The cave is easily accessible by road. There is a flight of stairs and inside the cave there are some places which are really very narrow where you will have to squeeze yourself. There are some places where you will have to actually crawl to go further. All these factors make it difficult for senior citizens, people with physical disabilities and plump people to go inside the cave. Only a small part of the cave is open for public. 

In rainy season the cave gets filled with water and so public is not allowed to visit the caves.

The limestone cave leaves you awestruck with the various formations. 

The caves and waterfalls and the clouds and the dense forests and the good natured people and the handicrafts- how many more reasons one will want to visit Meghalaya!!!

In Sohra, there are many resorts and hotels. We had booked a hotel on Oyo two months prior to our journey. Thanks to the dispute, which Oyo had with the hotels association in North east, we could have a thrill of searching hotels again, in an unknown city area without streetlights!! But our driver was really patient and finally we could get a decent accommodation.

Name of the hotel was Conferous resort. There was stream flowing nearby. The restaurant of the hotel was not much efficient, just served the purpose.

 

Coniferous resort

Sunrise viewed from the balcony 

 For Sohra sightseeing, either you can do a day trip from Shillong or stay in Sohra. We had stayed in Sohra for two nights and two days. 

For vegetarian and Vegan food in Sohra, my recommendation would be the Orange Roots hotel. The name orange roots can be traced back to the word Cherrapunji.. the orange grove. 

The restaurant is clean, food is tasty and view from restaurant is wonderful!

View from the restaurant

I don't have photographs of the unlimited lunch thali! It was good.

There is so much to see, experience and enjoy in Sohra. I won't suggest a hasty one day trip from Shillong. You better stay in Sohra and enjoy it at least for two days. 

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